Neovasc (NSDQ:NVCN) said today it tapped former Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) cardiac rhythm management lead Fred Colen as its new chief executive officer, with former CEO Alexei Marko staying on as an advisor and member of the company’s board of directors.
The move comes as part of a company-wide strategy looking to support commercialization efforts for its Reducer product in Europe and the progression of its Tiara mitral valve replacement device’s clinical program, the Vancouver, Canada-based company said.
“After ten years building Neovasc, I am convinced that now is the time for new leadership to take the company to the next level. I am especially pleased that an industry leader of Fred Colen’s caliber has accepted this opportunity. I look forward to my continued involvement as a board member,” Marko said in prepared remarks.
“Neovasc has reached an important turning point, and, as such, we have conducted a search for a leader with the experience and skill set to build on the progress made by Alexei Marko during his tenure as CEO. Fred Colen is a seasoned medical device executive with an outstanding track record and reputation as a strong leader. We believe he is exceptionally well qualified to lead Neovasc in its next phase of growth. Alexei Marko has been a very capable leader since the company’s inception ten years ago. His considerable expertise, determination, and focus have been instrumental in executing Neovasc’s corporate goals and achieving key milestones. The board is grateful for his dedication to the company and his continued guidance as a trusted advisor in achieving a smooth leadership transition,” Neovasc chair Paul Geyer said in a prepared statement.
Colen spent approximately 11 years with the CRM division of Boston Scientific, Neovasc said, holding senior executive roles including chief technology officer from 2001 to 2008 and as a member of the executive committee from 2001 to 2010.
Prior to joining Boston Scientific, Colen served as exec VP of St. Jude Medical’s pacesetter division, and has held leadership roles with BeneChill and board and advisory roles with Mölnlycke Healthcare, Biim Ultrasound, GTX Medical and Middle Peak Medical.
“Based on a strong belief in the promise of Neovasc’s products, I am thrilled to join the Neovasc team and to lead the company at this exciting time. I will begin with a deep dive in all aspects of the company, including its products and operations, during the next few months, with the goal of determining the right strategy to create the most value for the company’s various stakeholders. I look forward to working with our investors, employees, suppliers, and customers to expand commercial utilization and to bring the Tiara mitral valve to the market for the benefit of patients,” Colen said in a press release.
Dentsply Sirona names ex-Cardinal Health exec Casey Jr. as new CEO
Dentsply Sirona (NSDQ:XRAY) said last week it tapped former Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH) exec Donald Casey Jr. as its new CEO, replacing interim chief executive Mark Thierer who will continue in his position through February 12.
Casey previously served as chief executive for Cardinal Health’s medical segment. Prior to his time with Cardinal Health, Thierer operated as CEO of the Gary and Mary West Wireless Health Institute, York, Penn.-based Dentsply said.
“Dentsply Sirona’s board of directors is excited to appoint Don as our CEO. After a comprehensive search and careful consideration, our board unanimously concluded that Don has the right mix of skills, experience and talent to lead Dentsply Sirona to achieve its full potential. Don has deep experience in global manufacturing, product development and distribution of medical devices and technology. Further, he has a strong track record of managing global healthcare businesses and partnering with healthcare professionals, which will be critical to Dentsply Sirona as we continue to execute our growth strategy, accelerate innovation and advance dental care,” non-exec board chair Eric Brandt said in a prepared statement.
“I would like to thank the board of directors for placing their trust and confidence in me. It is truly an honor to serve as the next chief executive officer of Dentsply Sirona. This is a company that brings over a century of deep understanding of the market, leading brands, an unparalleled track record for innovation and a recognized commitment to clinical education. I firmly believe that Dentsply Sirona is well positioned to serve our customers by bringing comprehensive solutions globally. I look forward to working with the thousands of dedicated employees in driving growth in this attractive market and building on our position as the recognized market leader in the dental industry, empowering dental professionals to provide better, safer and faster dental care worldwide,” Casey said in a press release.
Thierer took over last October after the the company cleared the deck of its upper management, removing former board chair Bret Wise, former COO Christopher Clark and former CEO Jeffrey Slovin.
“On behalf of the Dentsply Sirona board of directors, I would like to thank Mark Thierer for his outstanding service as interim chief executive officer. Under his leadership, the company made meaningful progress on a series of important initiatives, including the merger integration, advancing our operational objectives and setting the company up for long term success and value creation. We appreciate Mark’s contributions and we wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Brandt said in a press release.
Medtronic lifts former China region prez Lee to APAC prez
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) appointed former greater China region president Chris Lee as its new Asia Pacific region president, according to a Korea Biomedical Review report.
Prior to joining Medtronic, Lee operated as head of Bayer‘s (ETR:BAYN) APAC region, and has held positions with Bristol-Myers Squibb and MSD, according to the report.
“The Asia Pacific is not only an important market for the global healthcare market but also a market with growth potential for Medtronic’s business. We will develop and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders to provide the best care and benefits to patients in this region through meaningful innovation, increased access to medical care, and value creation,” Lee said, according to the Korea Biomed report.
Lee will reportedly operate out of Medtronic’s Singapore APAC headquarters.
Ex-HHS head Price joins on with healthcare tech and staffing firm Jackson Healthcare
Former US Dept. of Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price has joined Georgia-based healthcare staffing and tech services company Jackson Healthcare, according to a Bloomberg report.
Price stepped down from the HHS position in September amid a number of investigations on tax-payer funded private chartered jets he took while holding the position.
Former Florida Governor and presidential candidate Jeb Bush also holds a position with Jackson Healthcare, according to the report.
Gilupi GmbH taps Jurinke as CEO
German medical device firm Gilupi GmbH said today it tapped Dr. Christian Jurinke as its new CEO
Prior to joining Gilupi, Dr. Jurinke has held positions as product development director and product management director for Sequenom, and product management director for start-up Caprotec Bioanalytics. He has also held the position of managing director at Stratec Molecular, Gilupi said.
“Dr. Jurinke is an accomplished expert when it comes to the development and commercialization of innovative products in the field of cancer molecular diagnostics. Together with Dr. Jurinke we feel well prepared for future projects such as extending our solution platform or further internationalization of our Gilupi CellCollector,” managing director Alexander Herrmann said in a prepared statement.
“I am excited and honored to be part of Gilupi a leading company in the field of cancer cell isolation. With the approval of the Gilupi CellCollector by the European and Chinese authorities we have a strong foundation to build on. Together with the great and passionate team here at Gilupi we will further extend this platform and develop and commercialize clinically relevant downstream applications for the benefit of cancer patients,” Dr. Jurinke said in a press release.
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